ESFA Newsletter - Monday 15th January 2007
Message from the Chairman Mr. Nigel Brown
Chairman Nigel Brown
The first week of January brought the third round of the FA Cup and with it thoughts of reaching a cup final. The ESFA will host 20 finals at the end of the season for both boys and girls at different age groups from Under 11 to Under 18. This inevitably will require a great deal of work and planning for the Competitions department in Stafford. Hopefully, by May the weather will be kind and all our finals will be a success.
The final two weekends for the U18 England trialists take place in January at the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall. Those lucky enough to be selected can look forward to an exciting programme of international football ahead of them. Final preparations will include a training visit to Villa Real in Spain. The season will open with an invitation match against Belgium at Aldershot FC on the 27th February. This will be followed by three Centenary Shield matches against Scotland (March 23at Stirling Albion), the Republic of Ireland (March 30 in Dublin) and Northern Ireland (April 20 at Blackburn Rovers FC). During the Easter holidays the team will tour China with two internationals played in Beijing and Shanghai. This thrilling trip will certainly be the adventure of a lifetime for many of our young players. The final match will be played in early May against Wales to celebrate 100 years of schoolboy internationals and this also, I am sure, will be a great occasion.
Although the primary small-sided are not sponsored this year, district, county and regional finals are taking place up and down the country to find national finalists for the matches to be played again at Keele University on Saturday, June 16, 2007. If the weather is anything like the last two years, bring your sun cream and hats.
I am pleased to report that the move to our new premises has taken place with minimum of hitches thanks to the hard work of the Chief Executive and his staff. The offices will be formally opened on Friday, January 26.
Finally, I would like to express my thanks to all colleagues involved in schools’ football and wish them all the best in this New Year.
Nigel Brown. Chairman
Chief Executive’s Update
After 103 years we finally have a home of our own. In the last week before Christmas we moved to our own premises on the outskirts of Stafford and since then have been struggling to get to full operational capacity due to a number of technical faults within our new communications system. Hopefully we will be fully operational at the start of this week.
As a reminder the new contacts are:
4 Parker Court,
Staffordshire Technology Park,
Stafford
ST18 0WP
Tel: 01785 785 970
(please contact us by phone for the current fax number)
From those dark and distant days at the early part of the last century we can reflect on our achievements and how far schools’ football has progressed. Over the years there have been numerous changes to our society, to our education and to how we play football, but the English Schools’ Football has weathered them all. No longer can we attract 50,000 spectators to a Trophy match, however, we now have more than 15,000 schools taking part in local or national competitions. Maybe the standard of football has been reduced with the loss of boys and girls to the Excellence programme, but we can now look at with pride at the actual number of children who are involved in football. The Excellence programme may look good on paper but I can’t really see any improvement in the England squad since the early 90s!!
School Sport enters an exciting period as we head for the Olympics in London in 2012 and the new School Sports Partnerships come to life. With the invention of Competition Managers there comes a deal of confusion as to who is responsible for delivering sport into our schools. Please may I make it clear that the National Governing Body (the Football Association) has passed on the responsibility to the English Schools’ F.A. for the running of competitive schools’ football? You, our County and District Associations remain responsible for the administration and organization of school football competitions. This does not stop you from using the Competition Managers, PDMs, School Sports Coordinators or Primary Link teachers to help you deliver your programme. Similarly, any help from the County FAs should be encouraged but always ensuring that the schools are affiliated to their District or County (for one year) Schools’ F.As and that any competitions organized are sanctioned by you.
I attach a letter recently sent to all PDMs (Partner Development Managers) for your information. If there is not a functioning District Association in any given area, School Sports Partnerships are to be encouraged to start their own District Association and to affiliate to ESFA here in Stafford.
The ESFA Council has asked me to re-assure all District Schools’ FAs of their continued support for District football despite the recent changes to both the organization of school sport and professional football academies
Annual General Meeting
At membership’s request a working group has been set up to discuss the administration and organization of future AGMs. Chris Banbury Plymouth SFA, David Lomas Croydon SFA and Ken Davies Merseyside SFA will join Council Members Steve Abson, Martin Duffield and David Lailey in the first meeting here at Stafford on Thursday 25th January. Feel free to let me know or any of the members, of any ideas or initiatives that you wish to be discussed.
Competitions
May I take this opportunity to ask all Counties and Districts to pay particular attention to the rules of competitions for 2006/2007, especially the differing rules governing the age ranges of a number of competitions? May I also remind you that the ‘maximum 2 year age band’ is a National Governing Body regulation and MUST be adhered to? In some competitions, both local and national, we have allowed for a single year age group but under no circumstances can you play children from three or more age ranges in one team. Two girls’ teams were bitterly disappointed last season when they were withdrawn from finals at the last minute for the irregular use of players. I hope this is not repeated this season!
Yes, that is a repeat from the last 2 Newsletters, and again I make the plea to all our team managers, secretaries and teachers in charge of teams. This season has seen a startling increase in bad behaviour both on and off the pitch. May I remind you that under the Laws of the Game ESFA has the FA powers to fine schools and associations who fail to control their spectators (both adult and young people)? Additionally schools and associations may be banned from playing any competitive football. I wonder what the world is coming to when a visiting school sports team has to flea their host schools’ ground for fear of actual body harm!
As stated in my November Newsletter, the Competition Department is under more and more pressure with the number of competitions that are now being organized directly through Stafford. Lisa has agreed to stay on in a full time capacity until at least the end of this season. This is extremely good news as she works really well with Mike and Darren.
At this time, what we ask from you the Associations is assisting the Competition’s Department with their work by ensuring that all your correspondence is done electronically via email or through the ever popular web site: www.esfa.co.uk
Currently we have a number of opportunities for sponsorship at a national level. It would be to everyone’s advantage if contacts of possible sponsors could be passed on to me here in Stafford.
Goal Posts
ESFA owns a number of sets of mini soccer goalposts which are used annually at the Under 11s finals at Keele. The goals are 21ft x 7ft and are of a metal construction. They are housed at Keele but are available for use by ESFA members. There is no cost for the actual borrowing but members will be responsible for their own transport costs to their venue and return to Keele.
Life Membership
New Life membership application forms are available on request from the office. Membership is reminded that applications can only be made for members who have worked at National level in some capacity or another. Work purely at a local level should be honoured as associations feel appropriate.
News from the Football Association
The Burns report
You will be aware that the Council of the FA eventually agreed the items included in the Burns Report Package, but not until each item had been separated and dissected. I repeat the notes from November’s meeting. Your ESFA Council will discuss the Package at Council on 10th March before I am given the mandate to vote of ESFA’s behalf at the EGM later that month. If membership have any comments to make please feel free to pass them on to me through my email john.read@schoolsfa.com before 27th February.
The Chairman addressed Council on the proposals being made following the report from Lord Burns. He stated that they represented the most acceptable position that was fully supported by the FA Board, but that they did not reflect all the proposals made by Lord Burns.
Council were made aware that they would be voting on 13 key issues as a central package. These issues were:
- Remit of the Board
- Composition of FA Board
- Remit of Council
- Council Membership
- Vice-Presidents and Life Vice-Presidents
- Reporting lines for committees
- Shareholders and Shareholders responsibilities
- Remit of the National game Board including Board composition and election
- Function of the National Game Board
- Professional Game Board Role
- Composition of Professional Game Board
- FA regulatory and Compliance Unit
- Funding Formula
As you can imagine there was much debate, not only on the proposals but on the method of voting and as to whether or not the proposals could be broken down and voted on individually. It was agreed that the vote would be completed by ballot and that the proposals could only be taken individually. If the original proposal failed and a counter proposal was made after the initial vote, then this would be accepted.
Of the 75 votes cast, 36 supported the package of proposals and 39 opposed the package. The proposal therefore was not carried.
The counter proposal was proposed and seconded. On that basis then individual resolutions were put to Council. Council agreed that for the majority of resolutions a show of hands would suffice and upon a show of hands Council indicated its support for the proposals on the Remit of the Board. However, all the members representing the FA Premier League and the Football League stated that they did not have the remit from their own Boards to vote on the resolutions individually and would therefore abstain from each vote.
With regard to the Composition of the Board, this was felt to be a sensitive matter and a ballot was to be taken. This was the issue of the independent directors / chairman. It was clarified that if an independent Chairman of the Board was appointed he/she would also be Chairman of Council (this caused some disquiet amoungst the ‘blazers’).
A ballot was taken in which 33 votes supported the Composition of the Board and 31 opposed with 9 abstentions. The Chairman therefore declared the motion carried.
All the other resolutions were carried on a show of hands.
The proposals will now be taken to the Shareholders, who require a 75% agreement, for acceptance.
The FA Chairman promised Council that much work will be done before the Shareholders vote in order to put meat on the bones and explain how the FA staff will manage the changes.
Coaching and International Selection
We continue to support the PUMA Coaching initiative, PUMA AFC. Please note that if you have any enquiries you should contact Phil Darren on phildarren@tiscali.co.uk and not the office.
The final 34 players attended Lilleshall National Sports Centre for more high quality training from Team Manager Tony Martin and his team during last weekend.
Attached to this Newsletter is a list of those County players selected for the final squad.
A final approved fixture list will be available from the office after the SAFIB weekend of 20/21 January.
Primary
The survey completed last year, dealing with Primary School Football is attached to this Newsletter. The Primary Committee continues to discuss the results and ways that might improve the programme for our younger members. The first new initiative to be introduced is non competitive festivals for Years 3 and 4.
Child Protection
You are reminded that all teachers, retired teachers and adults other than teachers require to have had a CRB check. The new cost of a CRB check is £15. Application forms for both CRB checks and AOTT registration are available from the office.
The Football Association has produced some very good and simple information on the use of photography with school age children. This information can be downloaded from the FA web site:
Promotion & Development
California Raisins have agreed to fund the first two issues of ‘KICKS’ for 2007 and are hopeful of continuing the contract beyond the 2006-2007 season. It would be nice to include a ‘local’ perspective, so please do not hesitate to send in articles and photographs telling us of the ‘good practices’ you perform in your Districts and Counties.
Have a look on our web site www.esfa.co.uk and you’ll be surprised at the range of saleable items that are now available. We now do a range of lambs’ wool sweaters in navy with the 3 Lions crest and ESFA embroidered in gold (M, L, XL and XXL) at £30 each. You can order this item from our office here in Stafford. And you can pay on line as well.
Grassroots Soccer Show
After a very successful introduction at EXCEL in London in 2005, the Grassroots Soccer Show is moving to Coventry City FC on 9th/10th June 2007. The organizers are keen to support schools’ football and assure me that the Show will be suitable for all ages. We are hoping to have an hour slot on each day to provide some top level coaching advice to any school children in attendance.
Please see the attached flyer and promote the show where you can.
Insurance
District, County and national activities ARE covered by a £5m Third Party Liability cover. This includes the hiring of rooms for meetings and pitches and facilities. You can obtain a copy if the insurance certificate by calling Dawn on 01785 785970.
If you have any queries on insurance please contact Malcolm Alexander at Linaker, Sport & Leisure Division on 0117962 5888. In particular they are producing some very competitive rates for Public Liability cover for Individual Schools and Colleges. However, all affiliated associations come under our national policy for third party liability so long as they are acting as part of the ESFA.
We are still discussing player to player insurance cover with Linakers.
Excellence Programme
This is a reminder to District and County Associations (and schools where appropriate) that if they enter into an agreement to play against Premier League Academy or Football League Centre of Excellence age group teams, both teams require sanction to play non-affiliated football. The ESFA affiliated team needs clearance from here in the office and the Academy/ Excellence team from their respective League HQs. Only Year 6 (under 11) and above are allowed to play 11 a-side football. If you wish to continue with playing under age children you may well find insurance invalid or in the worst case the subject of a court hearing if a parent wishes to take out a litigation case.
The ‘old’ Football in the Community competitions run by the PFA has been taken over by the Premier League and the Football League. These competitions are not in competition with our own run ESFA competitions and are for individual schools that are linked to their local clubs. We have sanctioned these competitions for many years and have continued to do so through their new ownership. However, there is still a need for all the schools taking part to be affiliated and cleared by ESFA. If you hear of any schools in your areas taking part in these competitions who are not affiliated to you please ensure that you ‘sign’ them up.
Adults other than Teachers (AOTTs)
It is becoming more and more evident that a number of associations are allowing AOTTs to run district teams unsupervised by a school teacher without having been registered at National HQ. If you are relying on ‘outside’ help to run your teams please register those adults with us BEFORE you employ them unsupervised. It has also been noticed that a number of associations have very close ties to their local clubs. Whilst this is not frowned upon it is not in the spirit of schools’ football for your teams to play in a professional club’s playing kit and to arrive at visiting grounds in a club mini bus.
AOTT registration is currently only valid for one year; therefore you must re-register your AOTTs on an annual basis. There are new forms, simplified and more user friendly, this year and they are available through the office. The one big change is that so long as all the other criteria are completed AOTTs do not need to be members of FACA.
This is not a difficult procedure, so please do all you can to register your AOTTs. Being registered is also a safeguard to the individual and allows them access to good practice procedures.
Discipline
We continue to try to work with the FA’s CAS system for the production of discipline letters and administration, however, Mike Spinks continues with our own system in the interim.
Colleagues are reminded that all cases of indiscipline reported by a referee must be actioned and an administrative charge of £8 be levied on the school / district / county and not the individual player. Players of school age (16 and under) who are ‘red carded’ may be fined in youth football by their respective County FA as the FA rules are quite clear that although a fining system similar to the adult game is strongly recommended, Counties may decide not to go down this route and only issue periods of suspension. ESFA Council has agreed to follow this latter path and not to introduce a fining system of school age players.
I look forward to meeting with as many of our Association Secretaries as possible through the year.
